Steam heating system



Feb. 15, 1927.

L. J. FISHER STEAM HEATING SYSTEM Filed Ju1`y 27, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 1 uf-TED' Pf,

vPatented F eb. 175, 1927.

teit-32s! l LEWIS J. FISHER, oF. REnsBU-'Regwrscons'ru v'j 'STEAM `Iranians srsrmu Y f App'ncajin ined :nilfyv 27, 1925"(Y 'semina 46,479.

l This invention relates to improvementsin steam heating apparatus andhas as its general ob'ject'to provide anvimprovedfsteani heating apparatus --in4 whichV provision 1s made. for the deliveryy of the Water offcon` dens-ation from the circulating system to a receiving' chamber, from which it 14s automatically returned to lthe bo1ler,fandfthe invention contemplates the provisionV of means whereby the ,delivery o rfreturn 4.of water of lcondensation to the boiler Wil-l be ei'eeted'with certainty and Without any Waste of steam'or 'any appreciable reduction in the steam `pressure in, the circulating sys- Another object of the invention is to provide, in""connection with theA chamber for receiving the Water of condensation, a novel construction of v 'alve operating. through the rmediumfof a float Yin 'said''ehamber'to` auto-j matically VadmitSteam'4 into the chamber above the Water of condensation face-umulated therein, vWhen apredeterminedvolume of Water'has accumulated-in the hambei", so that steam from the boileris utilized for effecting return of the Water of condensa# tion to the boiler, onlyv after a sufficient quantity of, Water' of condensationl has accumulated to Warrantsuch return.

Another object of the invention is to vide,` i n asteam' heating ysystemjof the class referred to, means wherebythe employment oi2 air vent valves'at` eachfradiator may be avoided and a single valve employedfas "a substitute therefor, and vin Vthis lconnection the invention also contemplates the- ,provif .sion ota novel ttorm of Water legf'forr col? .lecting the Water of condensationia'nd de- `livering the same to thereceivingfchaniber.

1n rthe accompanying drawings:v Y

Figurefis-a schematic perspective Av ieW illustratingfa steam heatingsystem embody? ingtheinventio'n.l v

"Fgui-Q is a detail vertical longitudinal sectionalview through that'portio'n' of the apparatus embodying the invention, parts being shown in elevation.

Y Figm' 3 is a' Veilttfial'ffiilisverSver,Sectionall vien taken 'Substantially ,V theElineBf-A 0f Fig-ure Q ,tlooling in bythe arrows.

the jail-@geen indicated Figure 4, Lis avertical" transverse l:sectional vie'W, through thefcontrolling,valve of the invention illustraties? ith@'T Velvsia@een connected, but M invention, as in other systems of lthlsgeneral Figii're 5v isv a'kvertical longitudinal seci tionalvieiv through the valve, taken substantially onthe line-- of 1Eigure 4, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrouns. Y A

Figure 1 ofthe'drawings illustrates schematically'a steam heating-system'in which usual' manually yoperable cut-'ott' valves '2, n

through the adjustment of which the supply ofrsteam tothe radiators may be controlled.

vrlfhe'numeral' Sfindicatesasteam boiler of theordinary type f and' the/ numeral 4 indigcatesthe ste-ain 'supply pipevvhich leads fr omfth'ej boiler and has thefusuall branch pipesvconnected to it and tol the several radiat 1' tfvayofthefval'ves 2; In the ordi# nar-y system, as is vWell known, each radiator is providedffwitlfi an airl ventzvalve' ylocated upon Landjin communication 'with that sec:

Vtion' 'ofthe radiator vmore'rei'note fromV the.

Sectionfwith Whichthe'cut-o valveV 2 is 1e system embodying the class, ,pipes f'are connected to the end sec. tions "o :t theradiators andfarepl'aced in A coinmunicaton' "11 return pipefindicated by ,the `numeral 6 his pipe v6, =in' 'the present inventioiL-is connected to one branchfof'a Water leg ivhich'is indicated by thenu'merat S, 'the 'other' branch offthe Water leg being ,Y

in diclate't'l. vby the"` numeiial, and the tivo branches 'being connected vat their lower ends by a (short connecting pipe l() and the usual pipeLittiugs, required 'toestablish such. a connection 'and position l,the branches f7 and Q parallel to 4each other. l.'l`he'- vdelivery end of tliereturnpipe GLandfthe upper end out the branch 7 of'jthe ivater` legare 'placedin communication with each otherthrough the mediumv o fa .TncouplinglL and a l2 is httedj to fthe f upper' branch of the :coupling and'Y supports at its upper end,fa ventvalve -1 -3"vv'hich may be fof anyof lthe .ordinary con-.

y strii Ctionfs'fand which provides forescape ot Uair"- i'frf'n'n' V'the vsystem and f confstitute's a` subl stitutefi'or the individualA vent valves ordi-V narilyprovided one upon eachof the radi-` 'a "'rsof the Vs ystemf 'At vtlfiifs' y'po"i 1 1 t, it will vident'that condehsedsteam, vand air displacedfr'om the radiators, ivhich Would Vfor di'narily` issue from 'the' individual air y ventyalveQiSconducted vthe pipeand 1,10

` by the numeral 15, a check valve 16 beingv its branches to the Water leg 8. A pipe14 leads at right angles from theupper endojf the branch 9 ofthe Waterleg 8 substantially ata point opposite the connection of the pipef6 with the branch-7. .ofjsaidjleg and".y

communicates with the upper portion of a receiving or accumulating chamber for Vthev -Water of condensation, indicated in general interposed in the said *branch* 14 so that ivhenst'eampressure v is admitted to the chamber ,15 under conditions to'bepresently explained,- the steam Willbe prevented from entering the" Water leg 8, although, on` theV other hand,`the Water ofjcondensationwhich has lacciiinulated'in the Water leg 8 mayiead ily ioiv therefrom through the pipe Vlll'aiid p past the check valve ldintojthe said aci holloivncylindri'cal body 16 having'a closed cumulating chamber. y y l y K 'The'faccuinulating chamber 15 comprises fa bottom "1.7 and provided at its side opposite the side through which the pipe'le opens, with a lateral extension 18 including Vasubstantially semi-cylindrical bottom Wall 19 and side Walls 20,' the extension ofthe body beingfprovidedvvith a'partition Wall 21 located betvveenA the open side of the extension fivhich communicates With the accumulating chamber 16 proper and an Vouter end Wall Y which is indicated by the numeral 22; V'The Walls of the accumulating chamber proper zio Uandits extension are' provided With a' continuous outstanding 'flange 23, and a cover plate 24 constituting-a closure for the chainber and itsQeXtension is disposed uponthe top' of the chamber-and its` extension With its margin resting upona packing gasket 25 which` isinterposed therebetween andv the flange '23, suitable fastening devices being provided Vfor' securing the cover plateV vposition,siichv for eXampl'easl stud bolts 26"`it`` ted through the cover plate, and' `tl'ireaded into the upper-edge' of the partition vvjall'21', av packing. 27 being interposed betvveen'the underside of the cover plate and said` upper edge of the partition Wall and constitutinga vpart of the packinggaslret25. A vent valve 28 of the thermo-type is carried by the cover plate '24sa`n`d' is located axially above the ac'- cumulating chamber 16 and provides forl Vlthejescape ofair therefrom. Y

`d'itions'vvhich Will'presently be set forth.,Vv A

pipe 31 leadsfrom the bottom-17 of the accumulating chamber to the Water chamber of the steam boiler, and a check valve 32 is interposedin this pipeftoprevent any back flow of Water from the boiler intothe accumulating chamber. y

The invention: contemplates delivery of steam under pressure lfrom the steam chain- Vbei, 30into-i-th'e accumulating chamber after a predeterminedl volume of Water of condensation has accumulated in said accumulating chamber, so as toeffect delivery of the Water fromv the' accumulating chamber through the n pipe` 31 back: into the boiler', and in orderk that/this' operation Lmay be effected automatically, tl'iere isprovided a control valve 33 and means for automatically actuating theryjsame; The control valve comprises a Y 40 isf formed? in; the partition WallI 21 Yandl a bushing 4:1 `fitted'intothe said opening and provided With a1 circum's'cribing' shoulder 412 iv'hichfbear'snagainstjthat side'of the parti,-

T-he headV tionjiv'all Whichl isfpresentedto'the interior i ofthe"steam chamber 30. rlhe bushingtl is provideclwvith a bore 43, andthe tubular steam Vconduit-138' extends through thel bore and is'threaded'at its end to accommodate a nutaallvvliich is tightened to bear against'the endv of a stiifiingtboxe which' Vis, threaded onto -the corresponding end Vofthe bushing 41'., the' packing 461W-ithin the 'stuing Vboi; snugly surrounding the endof the conduit 38 asshoviii'in Figure 2. A ypacking washer 4:7'` ofrii'bber orotlier suitable packingv inaferial"VV is fitted upon: the tubular conduit V38 anda metalwasher 48 is similarly fitted upon the conduit', andthe minor end ofthe head 36 ofthe valve' casing bears' against the Washer 48' and binds' theV packing Washer a7 against that side ofthe partition Wall 21 VWhich'is presented to the interior of the extension 18f'of the accumulating chamber, the parts beingheld in this relationship through the'tightening of the nut/lee It will beevident at this pointthat the valvecasing 33 may-fbe rotated With vthe conduit 38,'and, if

desired, anti-friction bearing balls 49 may be'ar'ranged 'Within a-ball` race in the Abushingftl andin" a yseries surrounding the condiiit'38'sov as' to provide for sufficient free-ir domof-rotative movement ofthe valve casing to prevent sticking thereof. The

valve casingl 34'is providedv in its Vunder side with' an outlet' port '50 preferably formed" in thel bottom of an arcuate guidevvay v51 formed in the underside of theV said casingv 34, and a ball valve .52 is .arranged within the casing and adapted to have movement in the guidewayv 51, the valve ybeing likewise adapted to restupona valve seat 53 which surrounds the :port 50. Normally,the ball valve 52 will restrupon `the seat r5 3" andthus prevent the escape of ysteam from the valve casing into the vaccumulating chamberV by way of the p ort 50, butV the invention contemplates the :provision ot means for auto- 4 matic-ally displacing the ball valve when thev Water or'` condensationin the accumulating chambcr16 has reached a predetermined level, and tliisjmeans will now be described.

lAboss 54 is tormedor provided vupon the under side ofy the valve casing 34 exterior thereto, and an arm v5.5 is mounted upon the boss at one side thereof and extends'beyond the head of the valvecasing and into the upper portion ot the accuinulatingchamber 16. A. flat Vcircular float 56 is arranged within the Vaccumulating ,chamberand a yoke 57 is associated with the float and .comprises spaced parallel arms 58 each comprising a ,section 59 secured at its lower endto theoat `body 56, and anupper section 60vr which i'spreterably formed with a series ot openings 61 threaded to accommodate` `a screw `62 which is fitted through. an opening in the corresponding lower sections V59, sol

thatk the arms of the yoke are adjustable as to length. The upper ends of the sections 60 of the armsot the yoke are connected by aV cross bar v63, and a second-cross bar 64e X- tends between saidsections 60 belowl and in spaced relation-to the cross bar 63.;- It will y l be observedby reference to Figures 2 and13 ings, in which position theball 'valve 52 will of .the drawings, that4 the arm 55 at its outer end extends between the sections of the arms of the yoke.` and between the cross bars 63 and 64,. and' it will ,turthermorebe evident that when the float 56' is in the low*l ered position shown in Figure 2 of the.draw-.

ings, the cross bar .63 will engage the'arni andthe valvecasing will assume the posin tion shown in Figures 4 and5 ot the drawrest upon its seat 53, tliusjpreventing the entrance of steam under pressure into the accumulating chamber.

the bottom 17 of the accumulating chamber 16. v l' l Y* f In the operation of the system, the air *Y displaced from the radiators at the time the furnace is iired and steam is initially genei'ated, will. be delivered through the pipe 5 tothe pipe 6 and will escape by way of the vent valve 13, and after the steam pressure has been built up to the point where the radiators are completely supplied with steam, the surplus steam, and such water of condensation as has'accumulated, will be delivered through the said pipe 5 tothe In this positionot the parts, the float body 56 will rest upon .Ym'aiirconducting pipey 6 and theisteain will,

of course, condense by't-he time itieaches the water fleg 8, the water, of condensation accumulatingk in said leg until it overiow's,

past the. check valve and `through 4 the pipe.

14,tintothe accumulating chamber 16. As

the water 'level-'rises in' the accumulating chamber, the loatjbody 56 will, ofcourse,

rise, carrying with it the "yoke 57..r /Vhen the float has reached a `levfels'uch that the lcross bar (i4-engages the endet' thefarin 55,

the valve vcasing 33 will, ofcourse, be rotated through ther upward thrust 'exerted .by the :cross bar l64 against the arm. In lorder that, when the valve casing 34 is rotated, the

ball f valve 52 mayk beuautomatically'dis'` l placed from its seat 53, a displacing element,

indicated bythe'n umeral-65, is pivotally mounted'asat 66,1iny a rece'ssG?v Ainthe under that as. the casing 34 Yis rotated, the said edge of the displacing elementwill ride 4against the rounded surface of the abutment 71 and the element "will be swung Aabout its pivot to project its ,displacing ringer 69` through the port 50 to engage and displace the ball. valve 52.k 'At this'tinie,.st eam under pressure will be admitted from! the steam chamber '30, through the conduit 38, andthe port 50, into the accumulating chamber 16 with lthe rc sultY thaty the 'water of 4condensation which has-accumulatedin the saidchainber will be displacedand caused to flowv through. the

pipe 31 past the check valve' 32;y iiitotlie boiler: there/to be :converted .intosteani-f Of'course, as the .water of condensation isv displaced from the said cliainberl," the floatk body 56 'will lower untiljit rests/upon" the bottom 17 of the said' chamber, atlfwhic'li time all of the w'atcrfot condensation-will have been expelledltroin the'cliamber. AsV

the float body approaches the bottom-of the `accumulating '(ihaiiiber,V the upper cross member 63 oit the Vyoke 57 willfpull dov/'n'- wardly upon the arm 55, thus effecting rota tion vof the valvecasing 34until it assumesr -the position shown in Figures f4 and 5 of the dra-wings. As thevalve casing is rotated to its normal position, the ejector or displacing element 65 will, by gravity, remainA in engagement with the abutment 71, and thel port 50 will, of course, recede from the linger 69 ofthe displacing element so that the ball valve `52 is permitted to roll inthe volume of Water of condensationvhas:l again accumulated Within thei chamberl tof elevate the vfloat 56 to such-heightas: toragain/.effect rotationk of thev valve i casing, Whereupoin the above describedroperation. will be-v repeatedi Itfvvill be evidentV from= the foregoing dee scription of the invention that'th'e; system is entirely automatic in its'` operation and requires f no attention whatsoever on the -lpartV of the one Whose duty it is'to attendl tofthe" outlet in one position:ofzrotative adjustment,"

tiringeof the furnace; Having; thus described. the invention, what I: claim is z 1 l. In' .steam heatingiapparatuameanslfor automatically returning.v the'y Water of; condensation'. from the radiator tol the boiler, comprising anaccumulating chamber',- means for admitting Water;l of condensation tof the chamber, a float Within the chamber, means for supplying steamto the chamber, means for controlling 'the supply ofsteam,` the said means comprising a rotatable valve casing having, an inlet for the steam and an outlet f port communicating with thef chamber and Vprovided'vvithavalve seat, a ballvalverest#l ing v uponthe'seat to close the outlet anddisplaceable in the rotative movement of the said valve chamber, means actuatedithrough rise and fall ofthe'ioat for effecting: rotation of the valve casing, and means for conduct,-v ing. Water of condensation fromthe chamber.

2. In steam heating apparatus, means .for automatically returningthe Waterv of cony densation from the radiator to the; boiler,

comprising an accumulating chamber, means for admittingWat-er of condensation-tothe chamber, afloat Within the chamber,` means for supplying steam to the chamber,.means forcontrolling., the supply of steam, the: said means comprising arrotatable valve chamber having an inlet for the steam. and an out'y let communicatingV with the chamber-and provided with a valve seat,xa ball valve rest# ing upon the seat and closing the said 'out-f let, and displacing means actuated i through rise'of the ioat and rotation ofthe'valve chamber, to displace the said valveA and pro-` vide for the admission of 'steam to the chamber upon accumulation yof a volume ofivvater of vcondensation1 in the chamber, l and means for conducting the Water ofly condensation from the chamber.

3. Insteam heatingfapparatus, means for automatically returningL the Water of' condensation from thev radiator tothe boiler, comprising an. accumulating. chamber, means fo-radmitting: Water ofi condensation to the chamber, .means-for conducting the Water of condensationfrom` .the chamber, a. float With@ in .the chamber, means :fonsupplying' steam to;V the chamber,- andmeans for controlling the supplyofi steam toi the chamber,l said means 'comprising arotatable valve casing havinganinlet fortheisteam andalso having. ansout-let,provided with a valve seat, aball valve tof` restfuponithe seat' and close/'the off'thje said casing, adisplacinglelement pivotally supportedy byy the valve casing and having a part engageable through' ther said outlet tofdsplace .the valve, van: abutment in the: path ofinovement-of: the displacing element' inthe rotation of the valve` casing to another position of adjustment, andineans actuated through rise and falll oflthe flo-at for vrotating thevalve casing;

4. Insteam heatingV apparatus, means-for automatically returning the Water Aofi cogn.

densationl from` the radiator to the boiler,

comprising an accumulating chamber, means for. admitting Water of condensationtox the chamber, means for conducting 'the Water of condensation fromlthe chamber, a float -Witln0 in the chamber, means for supplyingsteam tothe chamber, and means' for controlling the supply of. steam to the chamber, said means comprising a rotatable valve casing having an inlet for the steam and also havin ,f an outlet provided With ayalVeseat, afball valve-to rest upon the seat and closev theoutT let inone position of rotativ'eadjustment of the said casing., a displacingelementpivote ally'supported by thevalve casing and having apart :engageable throughV the said out- `let='to-dis1 olace the valve, an abutment in the path Vof 'movement ofV the displacingfelement in the-.rotationof the valve casingto an; other position of adjustment,- andwmeans actuated through rise and fall ofthe-float for actuating the valve, the lastmentioned means and shaving spaced abutments forcoaction with the said arman the eleva-ted'and lowered positronspf the float.

In testimony whereof l aiiix myy signa.:-`

tures Y c Lewis-umleiten.. [La] 

